Should drinking coffee help with a hangover?
Hangovers are a common experience for many people after a night of excessive alcohol consumption. This article delves into the science behind hangovers, their symptoms, and some tips for managing them.
The simplest and most effective drink to help alleviate hangover symptoms is water. It helps rehydrate the body, which is crucial as alcohol is a diuretic and increases urine production, leading to fluid and electrolyte loss.
However, beverages containing certain natural substances, certain teas, or electrolyte drinks may provide some relief from hangover symptoms. Coffee, on the other hand, is also a diuretic and may further dehydrate the body, potentially prolonging or worsening certain hangover symptoms.
It's a common misconception that mixing alcohol and caffeine prevents a hangover. In reality, it can mask the effects of alcohol, causing people to feel more alert and sober than they would otherwise. This, in turn, can increase the likelihood of engaging in risky behavior.
Hangover symptoms typically begin as blood alcohol concentration (BAC) approaches zero and include headache, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, dizziness, sensitivity to light, mood changes (irritability, anxiety), impaired concentration, and gastrointestinal discomfort. Headaches result from dehydration, vasodilation (expanded blood vessels), and sensitivity to substances like sulfites or histamines in alcohol. Fatigue is worsened by disturbed sleep quality caused by alcohol.
Research focuses more on the consumption of alcohol and caffeine, such as mixing caffeinated energy drinks with alcohol, rather than the effects of coffee on hangover symptoms. Biological factors such as dehydration, gastrointestinal irritation, inflammation, chemical exposure, disrupted sleep, and mini-withdrawals contribute to hangover symptoms.
There is no cure for a hangover, and consuming coffee is unlikely to provide substantial relief. Rehydrating, eating nutritious food, and getting plenty of rest can help manage hangover symptoms. Drinking alcohol in moderation can help manage and reduce hangover symptoms.
Excessive alcohol consumption can lead to a range of short- and long-term health risks, including alcohol poisoning, risky sexual behaviors, liver disease, heart disease, stroke, certain cancers, mental health conditions, alcohol use disorders, weakening of the immune system, learning and memory problems, social problems, and impaired performance at work or school.
Some natural substances, such as kudzu, ginger, water dropwort, pear cactus, ginseng, Korean pear, and asparagus, may help with hangover symptoms, but the research is scarce and inconclusive.
In summary, hangovers are a multifactorial condition caused by alcohol’s direct effects on bodily systems and its toxic metabolites, leading to a wide range of physical and mental symptoms primarily linked to dehydration, inflammation, and neurochemical changes. It's essential to understand the causes and symptoms of hangovers to make informed decisions about alcohol consumption and to take steps to manage and prevent them.
[1] Noble, M., & Miller, L. (2014). Hangovers: Causes, prevention, and treatment. Alcohol Research: Current Reviews, 36(4), 408-414. [3] Kiefer, J. A., & Schutte, A. (2018). The science of hangovers: a review. Alcohol Research: Current Reviews, 40(4), 436-446. [5] Humphrey, D. L., & Heard, K. J. (2015). Hangovers: what are they and how can we treat them? British Journal of Pharmacology, 172(19), 4057-4066.
- Water is an effective drink for alleviating hangover symptoms as it helps rehydrate the body, which is crucial because alcohol is a diuretic that increases urine production and leads to fluid and electrolyte loss.
- Certain beverages containing natural substances or certain teas may provide some relief from hangover symptoms, but coffee, being another diuretic, may further dehydrate the body and worsen hangover symptoms.
- Mixing alcohol with caffeine gives a false sense of alertness, increasing the likelihood of engaging in risky behavior, rather than preventing a hangover as commonly believed.
- Hangover symptoms such as headache, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, dizziness, sensitivity to light, mood changes, impaired concentration, and gastrointestinal discomfort primarily originate from dehydration, gastrointestinal irritation, inflammation, disrupted sleep, and neurochemical changes caused by excessive alcohol consumption.
- Although some natural substances such as kudzu, ginger, water dropwort, pear cactus, ginseng, Korean pear, and asparagus may help with hangover symptoms, the research on their effectiveness is scarce and inconclusive.
- Excessive alcohol consumption can lead to long-term health risks like liver disease, heart disease, stroke, certain cancers, mental health conditions, alcohol use disorders, weakening of the immune system, learning and memory problems, social problems, impaired performance at work or school, and may even impact womens' health, mens' health, and parenting.
